The mysterious death of Manhattan swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra at the Montauk Yacht Club is being investigated as a possible accidental drug overdose, according to sources.
Nolan-O’Slatarra, a 33-year-old Irish national, was found unconscious aboard a boat named “Ripple” at the upscale club around midnight on August 5. She was later pronounced dead. An official cause of death is pending an autopsy.
The boat is owned by insurance executive Christopher Durnan, 60, who also owns a second Grateful Dead-themed vessel, “Hell in a Bucket,” which was docked nearby. Witnesses at the club reported being awakened by screams and a naked man running down the dock yelling, “Do something!” before they called 911 and attempted to resuscitate the designer.
While Suffolk County police have not filed any charges or identified suspects, they have not publicly ruled out foul play, even as they confirmed there were no signs of violence on her body. The case is also being investigated by Suffolk County’s East End Drug Task Force. A source familiar with the investigation told Newsday, “Until you start ruling stuff out, everything is in play.” Durnan did not respond to requests for comment.
Originally from Carlow, Ireland, Nolan-O’Slatarra moved to the United States and co-founded the successful swimwear label East x East with her business partner, Dylan Grace. She frequently hosted pop-up shows for a wealthy clientele in the Hamptons. “I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven,” she told the Irish Independent last year.
Following her death, Grace posted a tribute on Instagram, writing, “We dreamed big together, laughed harder than anyone else could understand and built so much from nothing.”
Court records show that Nolan-O’Slatarra had finalized her divorce from her ex-husband, Sam Ryan, just months before her death. Ryan’s attorney, David Centeno, confirmed he notified the court of her passing before the final judgment was issued but declined to comment further, citing client privacy and ethical constraints.
Nolan-O’Slatarra’s mother, Elma Nolan, told the Irish Independent that her daughter was planning a trip home to Ireland before she died. “I don’t know what happened to my daughter,” she said. “I feel numb and in shock.”
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